The Freezer Ratting Stopped After I Drained the Ice and Turned Down the Thermostat

About 14 months ago I bought a 1,000 dollar Kenmore refrigerator and didn't opt for the extended warranty, so all I had was a year.

Yesterday my wife called me at work to say the freezer was making a hideous rattling sound. I envisioned Sears coming over and charging me $300 to make the fix, but I found online that a rattling freezer is often the result of too much ice buildup. 

So this morning, I lowered the freezer temp and drained the ice, about 4 salad bowl-fulls.

An hour later, the rattling stopped. 

Update:

The rattle returned, but it's not as noisy. I'm hoping over the next several hours the lowered temp will eliminate the rattle. If not, I'm in trouble. 

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Comments

[jonnybardo]

"If not, I'm in trouble."

With whom? Your bank account or your wife? Or, likely, both?

[herculodge]

I'll have to call Sears repair or extend the warranty. I hate spending money on a refrigerator that is this new.

[spin]

I only purchase a standard refrigerator without digital readouts, an energy saver or ice maker. Less to go wrong.

[Gary]

Sometimes the freezer coils can get covered up with ice. This happened for a friend of mine. In a side-by-side fridge the coils are usually behind a panel inside the back of the freezer. It's a good idea to make sure the air vents at the back of the freezer are not blocked.

You might also check the temperature of the fridge and freezer sides. The fridge should be at 40 degrees F or a little lower. The freezer should be around 0 degrees F.

[Gary]

Also, when you said you lowered the freezer temp and drained the ice, I assume you meant that you raised the temp by setting the freezer to a lower numerical setting on the dial (providing less cooling).

This is why you need to check that the freezer and fridge are at the right temp. Too cold and the coils can get covered with ice.

[Angelo]

I have LG washer and dryer from Sears, just out of the warranty period. They are sending me notices to renew----but I think I'm going to pass on that. No real problems so far, except once in a great while, the washer (digital) doesn't turn on when I push the start button. If I unplug it and then plug it back in, it starts correctly----almost like a power surge or something disabled it and then I clear it when I unplug and plug it back in. I don't know if that's normal and it's only happened two or three times in two or three years, so I don't think it's a huge cause for concern. I think Spin is on the right track though. If these things have serious issues out of warranty----I'm replacing them with the simplest, low frills machines available. Same with any of my appliances. All these bells and whistles---are just more bells and whistles to break.

[herculodge]

Thanks for the info, Gary. I'll need to buy a fridge thermometer it appears. I hate this Kenmore. Had I known about these problems, I would have never bought a fridge with an ice machine.

[Gary]

The coils can freeze up even in a fridge without an ice maker, Jeff. But it's true that ice makers generally reduce fridge reliability.

[herculodge]

This morning I called Sears and bought a 3-year extended warranty. My next fridge will be a bottom drawer with no ice maker.

[Angelo]

I have a bottom drawer with an ice maker. Honestly, I'd love the simplicity of no ice maker----but it really does come in handy.